Page, ND Seed Lubricant Company Starts a New Chapter in Ukraine

Talc USA is a Page, North Dakota based seed lubricant manufacturer whose products contain micronutrients that when applied to seed increase production output. Talc USA attended ExporTech (hosted by Impact Dakota and the North Dakota Trade Office) in 2018, connecting with the US Commercial Service (CS) / North Dakota through the program. Soon after the introduction, Talc shared a trade lead they had received from Ukraine and with that, the CS North Dakota reached out to the CS Ukraine office to inquire about the credibility of the firm. CS Ukraine conducted basic due diligence and confirmed that the Ukrainian firm is an established and credible company; and they also provided insight into Ukraine’s seed registration regulatory requirements.

With this promising introduction to Ukraine, Talc USA participated in the inaugural USA Pavilion at AGRO 2018, a large Ukrainian farm show. The USA Pavilion was organized by CS Ukraine (with support from CS North Dakota’s Heather Ranck, who also traveled to the show) to provide dozens of US companies significant onsite support and meeting space, including booth space, translation support, a full color catalog, refreshments, introductions to potential partners, a networking reception and even a visit by the U.S. Ambassador. To amplify their presence at the show, Talc USA requested an International Partner Search (IPS) where CS Ukraine provided a list of potential in-country partners. The original lead was one of the companies included, but the IPS allowed Talc USA to examine all market players further. Talc USA’s trip was supported by an SBAsponsored STEP grant, administered by the ND Trade Office.

“Participating in the USA Pavilion not only elevated Talc USA visibility at the AGRO show it also afforded us a high level of credibility when meeting with potential buyers.” said Laurens Robinson, Director of International Business. “Having prior knowledge of the Ukrainian buyer was extremely beneficial in preparing our company’s presentation and in negotiating a preliminary contractual agreement.”

Talc USA decided to pursue a partnership with their original business lead, navigating negotiations and necessary import regulations over a 2 year period. These efforts came to fruition in 2020, when Talc shipped its first large order of over 900 pails of product to the buyer in Ukraine.